The celebrated author explores the course of the river, meeting people whose lives are interlinked with it and discovering how painters, writers and musicians have responded to it through the ages. He begins by establishing the disputed source and talks to archaeologists digging for treasure in the mud of a riverbank.
The author explores the work of artists Turner and Whistler and meets photographer Harry Cory Wright. He also attempts to capture the Thames at dawn using a Victorian glass-plate camera and turn the piece into a work of art.
The author tells the story of the London docks of the 18th and 19th century and how they handled the trade of the world. He also travels upriver to quieter waters where Londoners once spent their holidays.
The journey ends with a look at noted writers, including John Milton, Alexander Pope, Charles Dickens and Kenneth Grahame, who are thought to have had a special relationship with the river. The presenter also visits the wild and desolate estuary, where ships head for the open sea. Last in the series.